DMK not a religious body, can't name successor: Alagiri

New Delhi: DMK chief and Union minister M Karunanidhi's elder son MK Alagiri has reacted strongly to his father's naming younger brother MK Stalin as his successor. Speaking to reporters, Alagiri said the DMK is not a religious mutt, meaning that it's not up to the chief to name a successor.

Karunanidhi had on Thursday hinted that his younger son MK Stalin will be his heir, laying to rest speculation on who will win the battle between the two brothers to lead the party after him.

Karunanidhi had on Thursday hinted that his younger son MK Stalin will be his heir, laying to rest speculation on who will succeed him.

Speaking at a public function in Chennai, the 88-year-old Karunanidhi, however, said he will work for the party "till his last breath". "Till my last breath I will take care of the party work. For the question of who after me, Stalin is sitting here as an answer," Karunanidhi said.

Alagiri and Stalin have been engaged in a battle over succession for some time now. Stalin has been looking at the party's affairs in Tamil Nadu while older brother Alagiri has been a central minister and came into politics much later than Stalin. Karunanidhi had made the same statement some years ago.